Question 1

Robert is taking a black history class.He learned that the one-drop rule labeled anyone who had a black ancestor as black.He concluded,based on this definition,that this was a racist rule.What is the best explanation as to why Robert would arrive at that conclusion?

Accepted Answer

The one-drop rule was created during a time when slavery was legal in the United States, and white Americans benefited from having a larger population of enslaved individuals. By labeling anyone with even a drop of black ancestry as black, more people could be classified as slaves and forced into unpaid labor. This clear connection between the rule and the perpetuation of a racist institution likely led Robert to conclude that the rule itself was racist.

Question 2

According to the Census Bureau,if present-day assumptions about fertility,mortality,and migration hold,__________ will see continuing dynamic growth in population in the twenty-first century.

Accepted Answer

According to the Census Bureau, if present-day assumptions about fertility, mortality, and migration hold, both Hispanic Americans and Asian Americans will see continuing dynamic growth in population in the twenty-first century. This is due to higher fertility rates and immigration patterns among these groups. Native Americans and African Americans are not mentioned in the answer choices as having continuing dynamic growth in population according to the Census Bureau's assumptions.

Question 3

The first U.S.census was conducted in __________.

Accepted Answer

The first U.S. census was conducted in 1790.

Question 4

Lucy is leaning about social constructs in her sociology class.Based on the lectures that she has been exposed to throughout the semester,Lucy has concluded that race is a social construct.Why would Lucy make this conclusion?

Accepted Answer

Lucy's conclusion that race is a social construct is likely based on the fact that definitions of race vary across time and place. This suggests that there is no objective or biologically-based way to define race, and that our understanding of race is shaped by social and cultural factors. This is a central idea in the study of social constructs. Answers B, C, and D are incorrect because there is no scientific consensus that race has a biological basis, differences among racial groups are not always obvious, and definitions of race have changed over time.

Question 5

The exodus of whites from residential areas when African Americans moved in is known as __________.

Accepted Answer

White flight refers to the phenomenon where white residents leave an area when Black residents move in. This occurred during the 1950s-1970s in many American cities and was a result of discrimination and racial tensions. Gentrification refers to the process of renovating and improving a neighborhood, often resulting in the displacement of lower-income residents. Redlining was a practice in which banks and other institutions would refuse to lend money or provide services to residents of certain neighborhoods, often based on race. Blockbusting was a tactic used by real estate agents to scare white homeowners into selling their homes at a loss, by suggesting that Black residents moving into the area would lower property values.

Question 6

The U.S.census has adapted to evolving shifts in how Americans identify themselves by __________.

Accepted Answer

The U.S. census has adapted to evolving shifts in how Americans identify themselves by changing both racial and ethnic categories to reflect the diverse demographics of the country. They have also kept the option of selecting "other" to ensure inclusivity for those who do not feel represented by the existing categories.

Question 7

Mawenzi has sent out hundreds of résumés but has gotten very few replies,even though he graduated with honors from a top-tier school and has experience and excellent references.If Mawenzi suspected intentional discrimination,what statement would support his suspicion?

Accepted Answer

Research has shown that job applications with stereotypical "black names" are less likely to receive responses from employers, indicating intentional discrimination based on race. This would support Mawenzi's suspicion of intentional discrimination. The other options do not directly address his suspicion of discrimination.

Question 8

What is the goal of affirmative action?

Accepted Answer

The goal of affirmative action is to increase the representation of minorities and women in fields from which they have historically been excluded, in order to promote diversity and equality in the workplace or in educational institutions. While some critics may view affirmative action as reverse discrimination, the primary aim is not to discriminate against individuals from dominant groups, but rather to level the playing field and provide opportunities for traditionally underrepresented groups. Affirmative action does not seek to reignite historical effects of discrimination and exclusion, nor to increase rates of assimilation.

Question 9

John was recently sentenced for 10 years in prison for possession of crack cocaine.His lawyer discovered that others have served less time for the possession of powder cocaine,a drug often associated with a different category of people.John's lawyer has concluded that this discrepant sentencing is the result of __________.

Accepted Answer

Institutional discrimination refers to discriminatory practices and policies that are part of the functioning of organizations, institutions, and society as a whole. The fact that possession of crack cocaine, which is associated with lower-income and minority groups, carries much heavier penalties than possession of powder cocaine, which is associated with wealthier, predominantly white individuals, is an example of institutional discrimination in the criminal justice system.

Question 10

During a lecture about race in his sociology class,Tomas becomes confused.He recently discovered,on his birth certificate,that he was labeled as white yet his much younger brother,Carlos,is classified as Hispanic on his birth certificate.What could best explain this discrepancy in labels?

Accepted Answer

The way social institutions label and identify racial and ethnic groups changes over time, and this can result in discrepancies such as the one observed in Tomas and Carlos's birth certificates. It is possible that at the time of Tomas's birth, the labeling of Hispanics was not as common or formalized as it is now, leading to his white classification. In contrast, by the time Carlos was born, the labeling of Hispanics may have become more prevalent and standardized, resulting in his Hispanic classification.

Question 11

In the second wave of immigration to America,which came through Ellis Island in the period from 1880 to 1925,large numbers of immigrants from __________ came to the United States for the first time.

Accepted Answer

The second wave of immigration to America, which came through Ellis Island in the period from 1880 to 1925, saw a large number of immigrants from Southern and Eastern Europe come to the United States for the first time. These countries included Italy, Russia, Greece, and Poland, among others.

Question 12

The earliest records that attest to mixed-race offspring of interracial unions in the United States date from __________.

Accepted Answer

The earliest records of mixed-race offspring in the United States date back to 1630, with the birth of the child of an Englishman and a Wampanoag Native American woman in Plymouth, Massachusetts.

Question 13

When Europeans settled in the New World,they wanted to open up territories for settlements.This meant that Native Americans were not only forcibly removed from their land but sometimes killed.This deliberate and systematic destruction of Native Americans was __________.

Accepted Answer

Genocide refers to the deliberate and systematic destruction of a particular racial, ethnic, or cultural group. The forced removal and killing of Native Americans by European settlers can be classified as genocide.

Question 14

In 1965,___________ made the following statement: "You do not take a man who for years has been hobbled by chains,liberate him,bring him to the starting line of a race,saying,'you are free to compete with all the others,' and still justly believe you have been completely fair."

Accepted Answer

This statement was made by Lyndon B. Johnson to illustrate the need for affirmative action, emphasizing that simply removing legal barriers does not instantly level the playing field for those who have been historically disadvantaged.

Question 15

Individuals of mixed-race ancestry are more likely to identify themselves as __________ if they have Asian ancestry,but individuals with __________ ancestry are more likely to be assigned to a single race by others,regardless how they self-identify.

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that individuals with mixed-race ancestry are more likely to identify as multiracial if they have Asian ancestry. On the other hand, individuals with African ancestry are more likely to be assigned to a single race by others, regardless of how they self-identify, due to the historical "one-drop rule." Therefore, option B (multiracial; African) is the best choice.

Question 16

Sophia is a third generation Italian.She heard stories about how her grandparents experienced discrimination when they arrived in the United States.Her grandparents also maintained their culture and traditions by continuing to speak Italian in addition to leaning English.Sophia knows very little about Italian culture and does not speak Italian.What accounts for this lack of cultural knowledge?

Accepted Answer

Sophia's grandparents and parents assimilated into American culture, which resulted in their gradually losing touch with their Italian heritage. Sophia, therefore, grew up in an environment that was not very connected to traditional Italian culture.

Question 17

As baby boomers gradually retire from the workforce,sociologist Richard Alba (2009)foresees nonwhite workers __________ jobs once held by white middle-class men and women.

Accepted Answer

Alba predicts that as white baby boomers retire, jobs in the middle class will become available for nonwhite workers to transition smoothly into. This suggests a more inclusive and diverse workforce.

Question 18

Alicia is part African,Hispanic,and Native American.How is she most likely to identify herself?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Alicia is part African,Hispanic,and Native American.How is...

Question 19

Kendra has noticed that there are many homes for sale in her neighborhood.What explanation might she ascribe to this phenomenon,if she were aware that most people leaving the neighborhood were white,whereas most people moving into the neighborhood were black?

Accepted Answer

This phenomenon can be explained by white flight, which refers to the trend of white residents leaving a neighborhood as it becomes more racially diverse. This can lead to an increase in homes for sale as white residents are more likely to be homeowners and therefore more likely to sell their homes when leaving the neighborhood. The influx of black residents moving into the neighborhood may indicate gentrification, which refers to the process of wealthier residents moving into a lower-income area and often displacing longtime residents. However, the question specifically states that most people leaving the neighborhood are white, suggesting that gentrification is not the primary cause of the increase in homes for sale. Redlining and blockbusting are also related to discrimination in housing, but do not directly explain the phenomenon described in the question.

Question 20

Becky is an anthropology student studying in Brazil.She has noted that race labels are different in Brazil than in the United States.What are the differences that Becky probably identified?

Accepted Answer

Brazilians do classify people based on very specific combinations of physical features, such as skin color and facial features, rather than just broad racial categories like in the United States. This is known as the "color spectrum" in Brazil. A and C are not accurate descriptions of race labeling in Brazil, and while D may be true to some extent, it is not the primary way that Brazilians differentiate between races.

Quiz 10: Race and Ethnicity